Ducati Scrambler 800: All You Need To Know

The company’s smaller Scrambler is now more premium, thanks to updates across the board

It will be almost 4 years now since Ducati launched the Scrambler on our shores. While essentially still being a fun motorcycle to have, it had started to show its age. However, the Bolognese bikemaker has put some extensive work into updating the motorcycle for the upcoming year. Let’s take a closer look at the same.

Different Outfit

The first thing you’ll notice here is the contrasting orange and black paint scheme, which looks striking, to be honest. Take a step closer and you’ll notice that the Scrambler has gained some muscle. The tank side panels on the teardrop shaped fuel tank is now much bulkier and sharper. They also sport an aluminium finish now, further adding contrast to the new paint scheme. More welcome additions include a new round headlight along with LED DRLs and self-cancelling turn indicators (also LEDs)

More Rider Friendly?

While we’re yet to take the motorcycle for a spin, Ducati claims they have made the Scrambler more rider friendly. How? Well, it now gets a new switchgear which is supposed to be more ergonomic. Then there are some improvements done to the seat and the suspension setup, which should make it feel more plush now. However, we’re reserving our judgment until we ride the motorcycle.

Even the fully-digital instrument console has been updated with a fuel gauge indicator and a gear indicator, which was absent before. In addition to this, it now also comes with a multimedia system with Bluetooth connectivity, which gives you the option to accept and reject calls. Further, Ducati has equipped the Scrambler 800 with a hydraulic clutch, for easier lever pulls and cornering ABS, which, according to Ducati, will allow you to “make a panic stop while at full lean without crashing”.

Same Underpinnings, Well Sort Off...

Powering the Scrambler is still the same 803cc, air-cooled, L-Twin engine. This motor churns out 74PS of power at 8250rpm and 67Nm of torque at 5750rpm, mated to a 6-speed transmission. However, you do now get a new muffler cover with a machined finish.

As mentioned earlier, Ducati claims to have improved the Scrambler’s rideability quite a bit. While Ducati is yet to reveal a detailed spec sheet, it is expected to ride upon 41mm Kayaba USD forks at the front and a side-mounted monoshock unit at the rear, adjustable for preload and damping. Braking setup too remains similar with a 330mm disc with a radially mounted 4-piston caliper at the front and a single 240mm disc brake at the rear. What’s new here are the 10-spoke alloy wheels, derived from the Scrambler 1100. As far as tyres are concerned, they’re still the same 110/80 R18 front and 180/55 R17 rear dual-purpose Pirelli MT slicks.

Okay, How Much Is It Going To Cost Me?

Well, we don’t know yet. Ducati will most likely launch the motorcycle in India by November. Currently, it is priced at Rs 7.23 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). But if we had to guess, accounting for all the updates, a hike of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 over the outgoing model would be fair enough.